TIRE COVER FOR A SPARE TIRE CARRIER

• US 20080047985A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Anthony Newbill
• Original Assignee: Anthony Newbill
• Inventors: Newbill, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US11/928,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20080047985A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/42.2
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 43/002 Handling devices, mainly for heavy wheels via cables and chains B62D43/045
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 43/005 Protective coverings for spare wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 43/02 external to the vehicle body

Abstract

A vehicle includes a tire carrier support structure coupled with a vehicle frame. A tire carrier assembly is carried by the tire carrier support structure, wherein the tire carrier assembly is repeatably movable between raised and lowered positions. A tire cover assembly is carried by the tire carrier support structure. The tire cover assembly can be moved so that it extends upwardly when the tire carrier assembly is in the lowered position.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle frame;

a tire carrier support structure coupled with the vehicle frame;

a tire carrier assembly carried by the tire carrier support structure, the tire carrier assembly being repeatably movable between raised and lowered positions; and

a tire cover assembly carried by the tire carrier support structure.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the tire cover assembly includes a tire cover support member coupled with a hub unit of the tire carrier assembly.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the tire cover assembly is repeatably movable between positions covering an uncovering a spare tire carried by the tire carrier assembly.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the tire cover assembly extends upwardly when the tire carrier assembly is in the lowered position.

5. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the tire cover assembly extends upwardly over an actuator included in the tire carrier assembly when the tire carrier assembly is in the lowered position.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, further including a tire cover mounting assembly carried by the tire carrier assembly, the tire cover assembly including a tire cover mounting sleeve.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, further including a vehicle accessory carried by the tire carrier assembly.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, further including a wiring harness connected between the vehicle accessory and the vehicle.

9. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle frame;

D-ring hinge and latch brackets coupled with the vehicle frame;

a tire carrier assembly carried by the D-ring hinge bracket; and

a tire cover assembly carried by the tire carrier support structure.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the tire carrier assembly is repeatably movable between raised and lowered positions.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the tire carrier assembly is repeatably movable between extended and retracted positions.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the tire cover assembly includes a tire cover support member movable between raised and lowered positions in response to moving the tire carrier support structure between raised and lowered positions.

13. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the tire cover assembly includes a tire cover support member with an orientation adjustable in response to raising and lowering the tire carrier assembly.

14. The vehicle of claim 9, further including a tire cover mounting assembly carried by the tire carrier assembly, the tire cover assembly including a tire cover mounting arm which carries a tire cover mounting sleeve.

15. The vehicle of claim 9, further including a vehicle accessory carried by the tire cover assembly.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, further including a wiring harness connected between the vehicle accessory and an electrical system of the vehicle.

17. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle frame having opposed longitudinal frame members;

a tire carrier support structure coupled with the longitudinal frame members so it extends between them; and

D-ring hinge and latch brackets coupled with the vehicle frame through the tire carrier support structure.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, further including a vehicle bumper positioned between the tire carrier support structure and the d-ring hinge and latch assemblies.

19. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the tire carrier support structure includes a trailer hitch which extends through the vehicle bumper.

20. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the tire carrier support structure is slidingly engaged with the opposed longitudinal frame members.

21. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the tire carrier support structure including opposed c-brackets sized and shaped to engage corresponding longitudinal frame members.

22. The vehicle of claim 17, further including a tire carrier assembly coupled with the d-ring hinge bracket.

23. The vehicle of claim 22, wherein the tire carrier assembly is repeatably movable between raised and lowered positions.

24. The vehicle of claim 22, further including a tire cover assembly coupled with the tire carrier assembly.

25. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle frame having opposing longitudinal frame members;

opposing frame extensions coupled with corresponding longitudinal frame members;

D-ring hinge and latch brackets coupled with corresponding frame extensions; and

a tire carrier assembly coupled with the D-ring hinge bracket.

26. The vehicle of claim 25, further including a vehicle bumper carried by the opposing frame extensions.

27. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein the tire carrier assembly is repeatable movable between raised and lowered positions.

28. The vehicle of claim 25, further including a tire cover assembly coupled with the tire carrier assembly.

29. The vehicle of claim 28, further including a vehicle accessory carried by the tire cover assembly.

30. The vehicle of claim 29, wherein the vehicle accessory is connected to the electrical system of the vehicle.